Iowa View: We must confront bullying head on

9:20 PM,
Jul. 31, 2013

Vocalist AJ Betts of RAMification from Southeast Polk High performs in January.

Written by

Graham Gillette

Alexander Betts Jr., a 16-year-old Southeast Polk High School student, ended his own life last week.

His mother says her son was a victim of bullying, and she believes the hate her son endured led to his decision. His friends and family called him A.J. According to his mother, bullies called A.J. many other things related to his race and sexuality.

I do not have the capacity to understand what drives a person to commit suicide, let alone when the person is a teenager about to step off on the life's journey. The act of ending one's life is unreasonable, tragic and inconceivable from every angle. "It ...